Rush, "Freewill"

As a reference for Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 9.39:

This classic song can provide a wonderful jumping-off point for a good discussion about freedom and fate, the place of the part within the whole, and how it could ever be possible for a man to be himself in a world ruled by God.

Back when young people still knew who Rush were, I would often give this as a paper assignment, and let them run with their own thoughts on the matter. Peart's lyrics here were inspired by Ayn Rand, but the topic admits of all sorts of themes and variations.

It leads us to that question: "Which will it be? Providence or free will?" It can take some time to appreciate one possible answer, quite a Stoic one, which is simply "Yes."

Rush, "Freewill", from Permanent Waves (1980)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7bbdIU95zM

There are those who think that life is nothing left to chance,
A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance.

A planet of playthings,
We dance on the strings
Of powers we cannot perceive.
"The stars aren't aligned
Or the gods are malign"-
Blame is better to give than receive.

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill;
I will choose a path that's clear-
I will choose Free Will.

There are those who think that they were dealt a losing hand,
The cards were stacked against them- they weren't born in lotus-land.

All preordained-
A prisoner in chains-
A victim of venomous fate.
Kicked in the face,
You can't pray for a place
In heaven's unearthly estate.

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.
If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.
You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill;
I will choose a path that's clear-
I will choose Free Will.

Each of us-
A cell of awareness-
Imperfect and incomplete.
Genetic blends
With uncertain ends
On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet.